Funding has been approved for the Discovery Science Center in Orange County to go ahead with development of a new education and science attraction in Los Angeles, US.

Finance was approved by the Los Angeles City Council for the 58,000sq ft facility, which will be spread over two storeys and provide hands-on exhibits focussed on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

It will take over the site currently occupied by the partially built Children's Museum LA, which was never completed due to its non-profit operator going bankrupt in 2009.

Discovery Science Center president Joe Adams said: "The need for a hands-on science and education facility in Los Angeles is strong and we're very excited to be a partner in bringing that dream to fruition."

Councillor Richard Alarcon said the facility would open within a few years.

"This will provide kids from throughout Southern California with an excellent resource to learn important lessons about conservation and our environment," he said.

The current Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana has over 100 interactive exhibits over 59,000sq ft and attracts over 500,000 visitors each year.